SEATTLE – Sebastian Saucedo scored a wonder-goal in the 61st minute and the Seattle Sounders never found an equalizer, as the Rave Green fell 1-0 to Western Conference foe Real Salt Lake at CenturyLink Field on Saturday.
Neither side managed to break through in a physical first half that saw the sides combine for five yellow cards. Seattle was dealt a blow just after the half-hour mark after rookie midfielder Handwalla Bwana had to exit the contest after suffering a foot injury, and was replaced by Waylon Francis.
Saucedo gave the visitors the lead in highlight-reel fashion, however, with a brilliantly taken laser strike from outside the area that deflected off the fingertips of diving Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei, staking RSL to the 1-0 second-half advantage.